Technology

Technology

The waves of disruption that have been lapping at the shore of industries such as retail and taxis are finally beginning to hit shipping, with a slew of start ups entering the transportation sector in recent years. Venture capital firms have been eager to back such companies, and are increasingly funding the most promising technology. Meanwhile, established players in shipping such as Maersk Line and Kuhne + Nagel are funding and developing their own technologies to ensure that they are not overwhelmed by the waters rising around them.

The acquisition of FMIC from Chainalytics helps transform DAT Solutions into a broader freight intelligence business aimed at enabling shippers, brokers, and truckers to understand freight costs and pricing.

A plethora of technology providers have emerged in recent years to arm forwarders with the ability to quote digitally, but not all are in the same category and most are geared to help existing forwarders compete with digitally-minded competitors.

After spiking in March owing to increased demand for essential goods amid the COVID-19 pandemic, truck detention has receded but remains a disruptive factor for truckers that can backfire on shippers when capacity is needed.

The addition of DP World to Maersk and IBM’s blockchain platform TradeLens is a feather in the cap of the still nascent container logistics network, bringing a string of more than 80 terminals and associated business into the fold.

Forwarding software providers continue to link up to provide amplified value to logistics companies, the latest example being SimpliShip and Qwyk teaming to provide rating and quoting tools to an Asia-based forwarder alliance.

Partnerships between digital freight brokers and TMS providers continue to be formalized, which should benefit shippers looking for extra sources of capacity in their core transportation planning and execution systems.

The Marseille-based startup technology incubator’s newest cohort features a duo of companies aiming to automate the trade compliance and administrative work done by logistics providers on behalf of shippers.

A container line consortium that has tackled a range of shipping standards since launching in April 2019 now plans to drive adoption of electronic bills of lading, a standard that has long evaded adoption.

Combining FedEx’s logistics network with Microsoft’s AI, machine-learning, and cloud-computing capabilities, the companies plan to offer much more granular, near-real-time visibility for entire supply chains, as well as individual shipments.

A new technology platform at Werner Enterprises is designed to break down communications barriers between the truckload carrier, its drivers, and customers, and automate more of the truck driver’s workflow.

Visibility provider OpenTrack has spent more than a year in stealth building an automated platform for ocean container status on the belief that shippers and 3PLs need faster access to cargo availability data.

The COVID-19 crisis will push the freight transportation industry closer to a future where digitalization is nearly omnipresent, automation is ingrained, and logistics has adapted to slower trade as the economic windfalls of globalization fade further.

The race to provide the most complete set of tools to manage the interface of container terminals and drayage is heating up, evidenced by Advent eModal linking with a drayage optimization software provider.